Messy military lawyer. Today’s public service announcement involves anybody in the military who knows someone who’s in their unit or is close to someone, or was at least, close to someone who’s under investigation or is flagged pending UCMJ.
I think the most common reaction that people have is to distance themselves. You’re worried maybe that by having a conversation with this person, it’s going to be awkward for them. It’s going to be awkward for you. Maybe they’ll feel like they have to talk about their case. What I would like to see is for people to reach out just to say, “Hey”.
Or just to say “how are you?” Just to say, “I’m here”.
Just to say, “you want to grab lunch?”
Just to say, “you want to go for a run”.
Anything that doesn’t have to do with their case. You shouldn’t be asking them about their case. Because you certainly don’t want to be drawn into anything. But it’s holiday time and this is a really, really, really dark time for a lot of people, especially when you’re under investigation and you’re pending something. And the last thing that you want to feel is that your entire organization has forsaken you and left you. So today’s public service announcement is if you know someone who’s under investigation or pending UCMJ, ask them how they are.
Reach out.
I promise it could make a world of difference.
Jocelyn Stewart is a UCMJ court-martial attorney who specializes in defense of allegations of sexual assault for all branches of the military worldwide.
Contact the Law Office of Jocelyn C. Stewart at 253-212-958
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